Page 67 of Claymore
“I was so worried about you, Ella. I don’t know why you went running off or what any of this has to do with Hallie or Ray. I don’t know and right now I don’t care. I’m just glad you’re safe. I’m just glad nothing happened to you because if something did, I’d never be able to forgive myself.”
He kissed the top of my head and I smiled. I wanted to tell him more, I wanted him to hear the truth about what happened, but I couldn’t. It was a problem for another day. I was consumed by his presence, by being back in a place that finally felt safe. He slid into the bed next to me, holding me tight, and I slowly drifted off to sleep.I love you, Claymore.
My eyelids fluttered open to the warm morning light. I felt the pressure of Claymore’s strong arms around me, the warmth emanating from him as he slept. I laid there for what felt like an hour, soaking up the calm and the ease that surrounded us both. Claymore stirred, slowly waking up, and I watched those beautiful eyes open.
“Good morning,” he whispered, and I beamed.
He leaned in to kiss me, the feeling of his soft lips on mine instantly jolted me awake. I relished in how good it felt, in how much I needed him right about now. He reached out to caress my cheek, brushing his fingertips across my skin lightly and I savored every second of it.
“I was so worried about you.”
“I’m all right, Claymore. I promise. There’s a lot I still need to tell you.”
We both sat up in bed, and I clutched the duvet to my chest, divulging every detail of my night, reliving every memory. He grabbed a hold of my hand, squeezing softly while he absorbed every bit of information. His eyes widened and he pressed his lips together, searching my face for any sign that this might be too much for me to handle.
“Ella…”
“I’m sorry, Claymore. The last thing I wanted to do was worry you or any of the other Rebels. I just didn’t know what else to do. I’ve already lost so much. Ray has taken so much from me I didn’t want anything to happen to Hallie too,” I said.
He leaned in, planting a soft kiss on my lips, and my entire body melted into him.
“I know why you did it, Ella, but if you ever run off again, I’m gonna kill you,” he said with a soft sigh.
“I really made you worry, huh?”
“You have no fucking idea. I love you. I am not gonna lose you. You’ve got a big heart, and there are a lot of people you want to protect, but that doesn’t change the fact that I swore to protect you. You’re mine,” he whispered.
“And you’re mine.”
Chapter Fifteen
Claymore
The main floor of the clubhouse was bustling with members, their voices at full blast, all trying to make sense of what the fuck was going on. Wrench and Ripper came in looking real battered. They were nursing cuts and bruises, wincing at the pain while Tank called in the good doctor to come fix ’em right up.
“What the fuck happened?” I asked, holding Ella’s hand tightly as she stood beside me.
“Wrench and Ripper were taking a shipment of guns to a new buyer when—” Tank began.
“When we got ambushed. Those fucking Lions are brutal. Man, now that they’re tangled up with the Kings, I don’t know how we’re gonna deal with this shit. They were dragging our asses across the hot asphalt like dead animals,” Wrench muttered.
“But you’re alive, Wrench. They didn’t get the damn shipment and that’s all that matters. They were getting ready to put two bullets in us when we were down, talking some shit about a cabin up north. Somewhere off Eagle’s Path,” Ripper groaned, trying to fish shards of metal out of his skin.
“How’d you get away?” asked Ink.
“See that gnarly blow Ripper’s got on his head? He head-butted those fuckers like a goddamn bull. He got his gun and started shooting while we got our bikes going again,” Wrench confirmed.
“Cabin? What about the cabin?”
Everyone turned to look at Ella. She seemed concerned about Wrench and Ripper, but her fixation with the little desert oasis was clear as day.
“You know something about it?” Tank asked, folding his arms across his chest.
“Ray used to talk about Eagle Path. It’s a road that isn’t traveled often. He always dreamed of having a place out there to waste away with his riches. I wasn’t sure if he was just high again or if he actually had a plan for the future, but that’s where they could be now. I think it’s worth checking out,” said Ella.
“Yeah, you’re right. Everyone, listen up. I’m gonna need a few of you to step up to the plate because Wrench and Ripper have to lick their wounds. They are not driving out with us in their condition. Ink, Shepherd, I need you both focused. You’re riding back,” Tank instructed.
“And us?” asked Vegas.
